Agenda item

To provide Members with an annual update on the work of the Community Safety & CCTV service in the Skipton and Ripon areas. This will include a focus on Community Safety Hubs, CCTV and the wider strategic Community Safety Partnership

Julia Stack, Community Safety Officer, introduced the report which provided an

annual update on Community Safety and CCTV service activities in Skipton and

Ripon. The focus areas included Community Safety Hubs, CCTV operations, and

strategic partnership work.

 

Community Safety Hubs

 

Anti-Social Behaviour hotspots identified:

Skipton Bus Station (youth-related nuisance)

Spa Gardens and Temple Gardens, Ripon (vandalism, underage drinking, drug use)

 

Interventions:

Quarterly Skipton Town Centre Working Group meetings.

Youth club support and graffiti removal.

Additional CCTV funding for Skipton Bus Station.

Crucial Crew initiative across 25 schools.

Spa Quarter enhancements including lighting and café improvements.

Youth provision in Spa Park via YMCA and Inspire Youth.

Temple Gardens regeneration project secured £15,000 funding.

Ripon Business Crime Partnership with 27 members linked to Harrogate CCTV.

 

Tools and Powers:

Criminal Behaviour Order prepared for persistent ASB offender in Craven.

 

Project Work:

Emergency bleed kits planned for Skipton, Crosshills, and Ripon.

Knife bin usage statistics shared.

 

Performance Framework:

Development underway to measure hub effectiveness against Key Performance.

 

Strategic Partnership Work

 

Domestic Abuse:

Seven engagement events held during 16 Days of Action.

Four disclosures of domestic abuse received and supported.

 

Serious Violence Prevention:

Knife bin rollout completed in January 2025.

 

Night-Time Economy:

Ongoing partnership work supporting NYP strategy.

 

Prevent and Protect and Prepare:

Local multi-agency groups established across West, Central, and East areas.

WRAP training and Prevent Champion event planned.

Martyn’s Law implementation support underway.

 

CCTV and Business Crime

CCTV control rooms located in Harrogate, Scarborough, and Northallerton.

Northallerton control room functions to transfer to Harrogate by August 2025.

Ripon’s 10 cameras managed by Harrogate.

Strategic review of CCTV infrastructure and future transformation planned.

 

Police Activity

 

Representatives of North Yorkshire Police outlined the following:-

 

·       The structure for Policing Services for the Area Committee area – including PCSOs

·       Crime rates for the area- an increase in detection rates and falls in overall crime and anti-social behaviour.

·       Attendance at incidents.

·       Neighbourhood Policing activities within the area.

·       Operations and initiatives being undertaken throughout the area.

 

Members discussed the report and the following issues were highlighted:-

 

·       The recruitment and deployment of PCSOs, including work alongside the other emergency services as first responders.

·       The current quality of CCTV, the standard required in terms of providing evidence to court and whether upgrades are required to meet these standards.

·       Issues around the rerouting of the A65 following road traffic incidents and the impact this has on local communities was discussed. The matter would be discussed further with the Road Safety Team.

·       Cross border crime appeared to be quite prevalent, particularly in South Craven, with the impact coming from West Yorkshire. Action continued to address this, including the use of ANPR technology. Concerns regarding

·       Child Sexual Exploitation and County Lines drugs issues were discussed. A multi-agency approach to these matters was being undertaken, with intelligence being developed to enable appropriate, positive action to be taken. Although this is not a significant issue in Craven it was emphasised that every effort was made to ensure that young people were kept as safe as possible.

·       The noise created by motorcycles coming into the area was highlighted and it was noted that this issue continued to be monitored and addressed where appropriate.

·       Details of Community Engagement events being undertaken by North Yorkshire Police, up to Christmas, had been provided, and it was asked whether follow up events were planned for after this period and whether the more rural areas were included in those plans. It was also stated that it was sometimes difficult for people to discuss particular issues at community events and opportunities should be provided for confidential matters to be outlined. In response it was stated that the report was an initial update and further reports would provide details of subsequent community events. Consideration was being given to developing a calendar of events. Every effort was made to ensure those wishing to divulge confidential information were provided with an appropriate opportunity to do so.

·       Concern was raised that the Neighbourhood Policing service for Pateley Bridge was now to be based in Ripon. Reassurance was provided that officers would still remain in Pateley Bridge to provide Neighbourhood Policing for that location. The development and success of Neighbourhood Policing were discussed. It was asked how often areas such as Ingleton, Bentham and Settle received an officer presence given that the Neighbourhood Police HQ was based in Skipton. It was emphasised that

·       Members were pleased to see the detailed report on community safety, CCTV and policing in the area and commended the joint, multi-agency working being delivered in the area.

·       The important role played by PCOS as first responders, given the shortage of available ambulances across the whole of the County. It was emphasised that the Air Ambulance service was an important feature in responding to incidents requiring an ambulance response, but the first responder service was imperative particularly in remote locations where a response could take some time. The need for additional defibrillators to be provided in local communities was highlighted and it would be helpful to provide these to operational Police Officers.

 

Resolved

 

That Members note and welcome the content of this report and the issues raised,

with Annual Updates on these matters being added to the work programme for future

meetings.